CHAPTER EIGHT: THE PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS!
Trista Meioh kept sneaking glances over at Jed as he stewed over the traffic conditions. She knew he wasn't just angry at the jam. He was constantly thinking about Executioner… and especially about Hotaru. Trista knew that scene earlier this morning was the foremost concern in his mind.
Why? Why such an unusual attraction? In just five minutes seeing one another, not even interacting… they fell in love?! It's ridiculous! Jed is just in love with the memory of what Hotaru did for him! And Hotaru? She's dead! Executioner must have just been playing with his head! Another of her tricks! Trista, however, wasn't entirely convinced of that explanation. Deep down she knew it had been Hotaru there at the Park. That Hotaru was indeed alive again. And from what she had seen there was indeed a mutual attraction between her love and the Saturn Senshi.
I mustn't be jealous! This is beneath me! I am a Sailor Soldier and if there is even a tiny chance of bringing Hotaru back I should give my all to make things right! Trista thought about the others. They would all agree with that. They don't care who Jed loves as long as Hotaru comes back. That is the greater good. Sailor Moon was right… They have a chance here to reverse some of Dark Mercury's irreversible damage!… But… But still… Why don't I want to go through with it? Why am I afraid of losing Jed before anything else? Sure we had something together in a previous life… And sure we have something together now… But if it will make Hotaru and him both happy I should just step aside… Even though… I don't want to lose him! Jed! I love you! That was why I freed you to begin with! I have longed for you for over a thousand years and now you're back! I don't want to lose you… Can't you see that?! Don't you care?!
But you're always away, Trista! You say you value what we have, yet you spend 99% of our waking lives an entire Dimension away from me! Jed had said earlier. You do a piss-poor job of opening up to people!
He is right. I have been away far too much. The Time Stream is wounded, damaged almost beyond repair… But there is little I can do but watch. The Time Stream must heal itself. So why do I linger there? Am I so obsessed with my work that I cannot feel comfortable anywhere else? Am I afraid of the real world? There was a time I hated going to the Time Stream, and it still aches with loneliness… But in some way I like it there too. And I miss out on what's important. Maybe that's why he's in love with someone else. A lonely heart will always reach out for another. And the way Hotaru and he reached out to one another… Could they be… Soulmates?! Trista knew immediately she had hit upon the real reason and the pain in her heart nearly dragged her into despair. Oh, God no! That's it, isn't it?! You've found your Soulmate, Jed, and Hotaru has found hers! Why?! Why did it have to be you?! Why is it every time I love a man he winds up with somebody else?! Endymion had to be Serenity's Soulmate! Jed has to be Hotaru's! Where is mine?! Who's my someone?! Don't I deserve some happiness after all this time?! Haven't I suffered enough?! A dark thought suddenly occurred to Trista. Although it was revolting to contemplate, she realized she had the power to change things. I could do it. I could take Hotaru away forever. There is a way to end the Curse of Saturn. And if I do that Jed would be mine forever! I love him so much… I can't… I can't just let him get stolen away! She gripped her head. No! What am I thinking?! That's a terrible thing to do!!
But I WANT to do it! her thoughts continued in conflict, almost like an argument. Oh, dear God, I'm cracking up! Get a grip, Trista!! You are a Sailor Senshi before you are Human! My duties come before personal desires… But I love him so much!… Think about Hotaru's feelings! Think about the feelings of all your friends! Think about the greater good!… But I LOVE HIM!! I WANT TO BE WITH HIM FOREVER AND EVER!! I NEVER WANTED THIS!! I NEVER WANTED THIS ETERNAL LONELINESS!! IF SATURN HAS A CURSE, SO DOES PLUTO!! I NEVER WANTED TO BE THE GUARDIAN OF TIME!! IF I COULD RENOUNCE IT RIGHT NOW I WOULD!!… You must not give in to temptation! Use your powers to bring Hotaru back!… BUT IF I USE MY POWERS TO DESTROY HER ONCE AND FOR ALL I COULD END THE CURSE!… You would kill her! You'd hurt all of your friends and cause untold damage to the future!… THE FUTURE?! WHAT FUTURE?! BECAUSE OF DARK MERCURY THERE IS NO FUTURE!! THE FUTURE IS NOW WHAT WE MAKE OF IT!!… No! Crystal Tokyo MUST come to pass! If it doesn't the Universe will fall into the blackest darkness imaginable! You can't make everyone happy! You must do the greater good!… WHAT ABOUT WHAT I WANT?! FOR A THOUSAND YEARS ACROSS UNTOLD EONS I HAVE STOOD BEFORE THE GATES OF TIME!! AND NOW MY ONLY FRIEND THERE IS DEAD!! WHEN DO I GET MINE?! WHEN DO I GET WHAT I DESERVE?!!
"Calling all Units! Calling all Units!" the Radio blurted out. "Target Alpha has been sighted! All Units converge on Jubancho District in front of Kintaro's Electronics!"
"Shit! It figures I'm stuck in traffic!" shouted Jed. He turned to Sailor Pluto. "Trista! Send me there! Now!!"
Pluto's eyes seemed to come back from far away. She looked with a mixture of sadness… and something much darker… at Jed. "No."
Jed gaped at her. Of all the reactions…… "Trista! Please! Transport the both of us to that location!"
"I will not lose you, Jed," Trista declared in a frosty voice. "We agree on one thing for certain. Executioner must be stopped. Stay here, you'll be safer here. I will go."
"No, Trista! What are you thinking?! STOP!!" he reached out for her, but a large hole of red light opened up behind her in the seat and she fell backward through the gateway. Jed's hand gripped only air. He tried to crawl across the center and dive through the gate, but the light vanished and all he could do was angrily punch the back of the passenger seat in frustration. "WHY?!!"
Traffic began to creep forward. Drivers behind his car began honking their horns irritably. Jed jumped back into the driver's seat and revved the motor. He switched his Police Sirens on, shoved the stick into third gear, and swerved out of the line of traffic, across the center barricade, and into the opposite lane.
Oncoming traffic honked at his car and slammed on their brakes. Some of them squealed and skidded out of the way. Jed ignored the danger and spun his wheel around, causing his car to turn a full one-eighty. Without missing a beat he shifted to his highest gear and put his foot down as far as it would go.
"I don't know what you're thinking, Trista, but you're NOT keeping me away!" Jed growled.
ssssss
Even in broad daylight the Silence Glaive had a halo of light around the blade. Ann couldn't help but focus on that light even as Executioner bore down on her. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the short distance between them closed.
This is nuts! Why can't I move all of a sudden?! Ann closed her eyes.
Police Officers were discharging their weapons at Executioner, but their bullets were bouncing harmlessly off an invisible force surrounding her. It was no good! Ann realized she was about to die!
Or perhaps not. All of a sudden the pavement beneath Executioner's feet burst apart and a stream of ice water shot up like a Geyser! Executioner was caught in the middle of the blast! Even she had to gasp in surprise from the coldness of the water! Her concentration broke and her hold on Ann was relinquished.
Ann wasted no time in leaping away. She came to her feet in front of the Cops and held her arms out to them. "Stop! It's too dangerous here! Be a little more useful and get these people out of the way!" she pointed to the crowd of Civilians.
Executioner rose from a crouching position and looked around darkly. "Sailor Mercury," she hissed.
"What gave it away? Was the water too cold again? I have a nasty habit of raining on evil's parade," Sailor Mercury walked up the street defiantly. When she stopped she struck a pose with her arms crossed over her chest and her legs spread. "In the name of TRUE justice, Sailor Mercury shall put an end to your Crusade!"
"You have to forgive my big Sister," said another voice from within the crowd. Sailor Mars pushed her way forth from their ranks and stood on the opposite side of Executioner. "She's been a Sailor Scout for only a month and she thinks she's entitled to make up corny lines. But while we're at it… Sailor Mars is here to stop you as well!"
"Mars! Do you really have to embarrass me like that in front of everyone?!" Mercury shouted across the way.
Mars shrugged. "It's a Sister's job to bring her sibling down a notch. And anyway we got more important things to do than waste words on 'Senorita Psychopath' here."
Executioner had murder in her eyes! "Do none of you Senshi have any sense?" she asked. "Do none of you realize that there is only one true righteous path?!"
"If there is only one. I highly doubt you're walking it. What do you think gives you the right to judge who lives or who dies?" Ann stepped up.
"Hold it, all of you!" a senior Police Officer, a Sergeant according to his chevrons, stepped forward as well. "You are ALL under arrest!"
"What?! What did we do?!!" Mercury shrieked.
"The law makes no distinctions, Sailor Scouts!" the Sergeant declared. "According to law… ALL of you are Vigilantes! You have no authority in Tokyo!"
None of the Senshi had any kind of answer for that. Could he be right? Were they truly no better than Executioner?!
"For once I agree with you, Officer," Executioner spoke up. "I am the ultimate authority now! Tokyo has slipped completely out of control! Even its defenders fight amongst themselves for the scraps! I have no choice but to declare MARTIAL LAW!!" She pointed her Silence Glaive at the Cops.
"FIRE!!" the Sergeant commanded.
"No… DON'T!!" Mercury and Mars charged forward from both sides.
"Insolent Fools!!" Executioner concentrated and an enormous wall of rippling light appeared and advanced like a Tsunami on the Police and their vehicles! The force ripped the topping right off the pavement as it went along!
"SAILOR SENSHI! UNITE!! WE HAVE EXECUTIONER IN THE JUBANCHO SHOPPING DISTRICT!! GET HERE QUICKLY BEFORE SHE KILLS SOMEONE!!" Mars shouted into her Communicator.
The Police stood their ground, discharging their weapons until the last second. Their bullets had no effect, ricocheting off the force barrier. Civilians all around screamed and began to flee. Finally the Cops also ran as the barrier pushed them back. Their vehicles were slammed by the invisible wall and were tossed airborne like so many toys!
"Don't you realize you're destroying Tokyo all over again?!" Ann swiped her claws at Executioner.
"Violence shouldn't be necessary if you would only join me!" Executioner dodged the slashing nails.
"All we want is peace! But your methods have hurt more than just the Criminals, Executioner!" Sailor Mars put her fingers together. "FIRE SOUL!!"
Executioner held up her Glaive and deflected the fireball into the air where it detonated harmlessly. "I'm not some monster, Mars! I kill only those who deserve it!"
Sailor Mercury moved in. "But you've hurt so many people! Your actions have destroyed public property… Injured Police Officers… Even hurt the people you once called friends! How long will it be before you go too far?! BUBBLE SPRAY!!"
The area became shrouded in fog. "Keep pushing me and we'll just see how far this goes!" Executioner responded by leaping high up into the air, out of the cloud of mist, and up to the roof of the Electronics Store. "None of this has to be necessary, Senshi! Things will be so much easier when you accept the new order of things!"
"How so?!" Mars and Mercury joined her on the roof.
"You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs! Sure my methods may seem violent to you, but think of the long run! Once people are too scared to break the law peace shall return to Tokyo!"
"At what price?!" Mars' Sniper Bow appeared in her hands. "Do hundreds have to die first?! Hideki Tojo promised similar things to Japan sixty years ago, but all he brought was never-ending war and the ultimate horror of the Atomic Bomb down upon Japan!!"
"He was Human… And thus he had Human failings!!" Executioner readied herself.
"So you're saying you're better than they are?!" Someone interjected.
Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Venus, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune landed on the rooftop in a semicircle around Executioner. "You're no better than Tojo in that regard!" Sailor Moon pointed an accusing finger at Executioner.
"And why not?!" Executioner finally lost her temper. "Can't you see what these people you call innocent have done?! Look back upon Human History and all you will see is a never-ending History of bloodshed and tears! Almost all of recorded time is bathed in the hues of destruction! For 5,000 years Humanity has attacked, raped, pillaged, plundered, sacked, burned, conquered, bombed and annihilated one another in petty bids for land or material wealth, or for their so-called concepts of freedom and religion! Only when the Senshi were in control was Human History ever in a state of relative peace!"
"Give them a chance! They can be better than that if you only give them the freedom to choose!" Sailor Moon argued.
She glared at Sailor Moon. "I remember when your Mother was in control! Queen Serenity would never have tolerated the world sinking to the depths it has! You have FAILED Sailor Moon! You've failed your legacy! You've failed your world! You've failed your Mother! You've failed YOURSELF!! My function is to correct your failure!"
Sailor Moon stopped short, looking shocked.
"Enough!" Sailor Uranus broke in. "Sailor Moon does not deserve that kind of abuse! She's succeeded in destroying evil countless times! You can't blame Humanity's shortcomings on her!"
"Alright, I'll be fair about it!" Executioner approached Sailor Moon and grabbed her by the wrist. "What about Dark Mercury, Sailor Moon?! Do you remember why Tokyo is like this to begin with?! Why did Dark Mercury take the trouble to come back here and try to destroy you?! It's because when your best friend needed you the most you ignored her pain and suffering! Countless trillions are dead because you were blind to the pain of Amy Mizuno! You can't blame THAT transgression on Humanity, Sailor Moon! Because when you get right down to it Sailor Starfighter, Sailor Mars AND myself died to correct YOUR mistake! If you had been the Senshi you could be the first time around, none of us would be in this position to begin with!"
Sailor Moon shook her head and began to sob. "W-why?! Why are you being so mean?!!"
"That's not true! You have no right to blame what happened on her!! Which brings back the question… Who are YOU to accuse people of right and wrong?!" Tuxedo Mask yanked Sailor Moon away from her.
"My cursed existence is the result of hatred gone wrong!" Executioner's eyes looked angry, but underneath the surface there was a roiling level of regret as well. "Because people I never even knew wanted to kill one another I wound up with this curse of never being able to rest! Never again to live a simple life! Not as long as evil still exists! How many times do I have to die before you all realize that?! How many times must I kill before I can make you see the error of their ways?!"
"I'm sorry!" Sailor Moon collapsed against Tuxedo Mask's shoulder. "I-I'm so sorry!!"
"Sorry doesn't bring Hotaru Tomoe's life back, does it?!" Executioner exploded with rage and the Saturn Symbol blazed to life! The rooftop began to quake and heave underfoot! The Senshi finally understood too late what she was really up to.
"Whoa! What's happening now?!" Jupiter exclaimed.
"She was only playing for time!" Neptune realized. "She's built up enough force to level us all! Watch out!!"
The resulting explosion ripped the roof apart beneath everyone's feet! The Senshi screamed collectively as their footing gave way and they fell into the crumbling structure! Their shouts were drowned out as the walls came down next and buried them under tons of bricks and masonry!
There was nothing but silence after that. People on the ground below gaped in shock at what transpired. Police Officers stood impotently on the ground, knowing their weapons wouldn't have any effect on Executioner. Civilians, whether they hated the Senshi or not, could not feel anything but shock at seeing them defeated like that! And amidst the silence, Executioner hovered in midair, surrounded by a ring of light that exaggerated the shadows on her face.
"You have been judged… And you have been found unworthy," Executioner said softly. "If you will not take the law into your hands… Then I will!"
Without further ado, Executioner soared off into the sky and vanished from view. The crowd below finally came to life and slowly began to advance on the shattered building their heroes were buried in.
One Police Officer turned to his superior and asked: "Sir? What now sir? Without those Senshi girls… Can WE do anything to stop her?!"
The elder Officer was silent for a second before he replied: "I don't know… I don't know if anything beneath God can stop Executioner! Lord have mercy on us all…"
TO BE CONTINUED.........
NEXT CHAPTER: MARTIAL LAW!